NYC large-soda ban blocked by judge, Mayor Bloomberg vows fight
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A man gets a Double Gulp drink at a 7-11 on the Upper East Side of New York City on March 11, 2013. Today was suppose to be the last day New Yorkers were able to purchase super-sized sugary drinks at restaurants, movie theatres, sports venues and street carts in New York City, but New York Supreme Court Judge Milton Tingling ruled Monday that the city may not enforce the new regulation. 7-11 was always excempt from the regulation. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Soft drink cups sized (left to right) at 0.9 litres and 1.9 litres are displayed at a news conference at City Hall in New York, in this May 31, 2012, file photo. A judge on March 11, 2013, invalidated New York City's plan to ban large sugary drinks from restaurants and other eateries, one day before the new law was to take effect. -- FILE PHOTO: REUTERS
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A woman takes a drink from a 0.8 litres Caramel Frappuccino at a Starbucks on the Upper East Side of New York City March 11, 2013. Beginning Tuesday, restaurants will no longer be allowed to sell sugary drinks in cups larger than 0.48 litres. Mayor Michael Bloomberg has said the ban is a way to fight a growing problem of obesity in the city. On Monday, he released new data that officials say shows “the strong correlation between sugary drink consumption and obesity.” Those found in violation of the NYC Soda Ban could face hefty fines as a result. -- FILE PHOTO: AFP
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In this March 8, 2013 file photo, customers at Brother Jimmy's BBQ call cheers with 0.71 litres, left, and 0.48 litres beverages, in New York. New York City's groundbreaking limit on the size of sugar-laden drinks has been struck down by a judge shortly before it was set to take effect. The restriction was supposed to start Tuesday, March 12, 2013. The rule prohibits selling non-diet soda and some other sugary beverages in containers bigger than 16 ounces. It applies at places ranging from pizzerias to sports stadiums, though not at supermarkets or convenience stores. -- FILE PHOTO: AP
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In this March 8, 2013 file photo, a Coca-Cola poster about the city's anticipated beverage ban is displayed at a pizza shop at New York's Penn Station. New York City's groundbreaking limit on the size of sugar-laden drinks has been struck down by a judge shortly before it was set to take effect. The restriction was supposed to start Tuesday, March 12, 2013. The rule prohibits selling non-diet soda and some other sugary beverages in containers bigger than 0.48 litres. It applies at places ranging from pizzerias to sports stadiums, though not at supermarkets or convenience stores. -- FILE PHOTO: AP
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New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg speaks to the media at New York's City Hall after a ruling invalidating the city's plan to ban large sugary drinks from restaurants and other eateries, on March 11, 2013. Mr Bloomberg said on Monday that a state judge was "totally in error" when he overturned a planned ban on large sugary drinks one day before it was scheduled to take effect and predicted the city would win the case on appeal. The city vowed to appeal the judge's decision. -- FILE PHOTO: REUTERS
A man gets a Double Gulp drink at a 7-11 on the Upper East Side of New York City on March 11, 2013. Today was suppose to be the last day New Yorkers were able to purchase super-sized sugary drinks at restaurants, movie theatres, sports venues and street carts in New York City, but New York Supreme Court Judge Milton Tingling ruled Monday that the city may not enforce the new regulation. 7-11 was always excempt from the regulation. -- PHOTO: AFP
Soft drink cups sized (left to right) at 0.9 litres and 1.9 litres are displayed at a news conference at City Hall in New York, in this May 31, 2012, file photo. A judge on March 11, 2013, invalidated New York City's plan to ban large sugary drinks from restaurants and other eateries, one day before the new law was to take effect. -- FILE PHOTO: REUTERS
A woman takes a drink from a 0.8 litres Caramel Frappuccino at a Starbucks on the Upper East Side of New York City March 11, 2013. Beginning Tuesday, restaurants will no longer be allowed to sell sugary drinks in cups larger than 0.48 litres. Mayor Michael Bloomberg has said the ban is a way to fight a growing problem of obesity in the city. On Monday, he released new data that officials say shows “the strong correlation between sugary drink consumption and obesity.” Those found in violation of the NYC Soda Ban could face hefty fines as a result. -- FILE PHOTO: AFP
In this March 8, 2013 file photo, customers at Brother Jimmy's BBQ call cheers with 0.71 litres, left, and 0.48 litres beverages, in New York. New York City's groundbreaking limit on the size of sugar-laden drinks has been struck down by a judge shortly before it was set to take effect. The restriction was supposed to start Tuesday, March 12, 2013. The rule prohibits selling non-diet soda and some other sugary beverages in containers bigger than 16 ounces. It applies at places ranging from pizzerias to sports stadiums, though not at supermarkets or convenience stores. -- FILE PHOTO: AP
In this March 8, 2013 file photo, a Coca-Cola poster about the city's anticipated beverage ban is displayed at a pizza shop at New York's Penn Station. New York City's groundbreaking limit on the size of sugar-laden drinks has been struck down by a judge shortly before it was set to take effect. The restriction was supposed to start Tuesday, March 12, 2013. The rule prohibits selling non-diet soda and some other sugary beverages in containers bigger than 0.48 litres. It applies at places ranging from pizzerias to sports stadiums, though not at supermarkets or convenience stores. -- FILE PHOTO: AP
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg speaks to the media at New York's City Hall after a ruling invalidating the city's plan to ban large sugary drinks from restaurants and other eateries, on March 11, 2013. Mr Bloomberg said on Monday that a state judge was "totally in error" when he overturned a planned ban on large sugary drinks one day before it was scheduled to take effect and predicted the city would win the case on appeal. The city vowed to appeal the judge's decision. -- FILE PHOTO: REUTERS
NEW YORK (REUTERS) - New York City's ban on large sugary drinks from restaurants, movie theatres and other establishments was invalidated on Monday by a state judge as "arbitrary and capricious", a day before it was to take effect.
The 11-hour decision was a blow to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, whose top lawyer quickly vowed to appeal.
Bloomberg has made public health a cornerstone of his administration, with laws prohibiting smoking in restaurants, bars and parks; banning trans fats; and requiring chain restaurants to post calorie counts.
New York City Corporation Counsel Michael Cardozo vowed to appeal and keep pressing the mayor's case that the new law is needed to combat a growing obesity epidemic.
